A ‘REMARKABLE’ teacher has made history by running this year’s London Marathon followed by the 180th Crick Run, the oldest organised school run in the world – in the same day.
Straight after finishing 26th in the London event, Rugby School maths teacher Andrew Siggers jumped on a train back to Rugby and ran the 10-mile Crick Run.
It means Barby Road resident Andrew is the first ever runner to complete in the world’s original school ‘marathon’ and the London – itself invented by a former Rugby School pupil in tribute to the Crick Run – in one day.
He finished the London Marathon in 2:29:45, and the Crick Run in 1:10:08.
Fate was on Andrew’s side when the Crick was rescheduled to Sunday (March 22) from its original date in March due to snow.
He said: “I must admit, I contemplated running the Crick as soon as I knew the new date co-incided with the London.
“I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist the challenge come the day, and it’s not uncommon for me to run both morning and in the afternoon.”
As master in charge of cross country, the dedicated athlete had the extra challenge of organising the Crick and Barby Runs, which attract hundreds of pupils, teachers and Old Rugbieans.
But Andrew, who has run the 55 miles from London to Brighton and is signed up for the Northamptonshire ‘Spires and Shires’ Ultra of 35 miles in May, took it all in his stride.
The school’s director of sport Debbie Skene described Andrew as a ‘truly remarkable member of the teaching staff’.
She said: “His achievements equal those of full time elite runners. He achieves unbelievable feats with his running while being a dedicated full time maths teacher and tutor in a boarding house.
“His passion for running is infectious and easy to catch due to the plethora of clubs he runs throughout the week and he is dedicated to organising the Crick every year to an enviable high standard.
“He did not question his ability to be able to cover both events in one day, and despite some doubts, he did not fail on his promise.”
Old Rugbiean Chris Brasher invented the London Marathon in 1981 after being inspired by The Crick while at Rugby School. His son Hugh now organises the marathon.
Records of the original Crick Run at Rugby School were kept from around 1837 by the ‘Holder of the Bigside Bags’ – the name given to the captain of running, referring to the paper-chase bags originally used in cross country ‘chases’.
The earliest versions of the event involved students running out to ‘have tea with the vicar of Crick’, then running back to School. Road changes have seen the original 12.25mile course adjusted to the 10-mile course used today.
